The House Committee is hearing more input from people who are opposed to gambling while Bally’s cautions about any rash decisions
Legislature in Rhode Island is continuing to hear the case argued against smoking on casino floors, with the State House and the House Committee on Finance receiving evidence from interest groups who have argued against the legal loophole that allows casino floors to maintain the questionable practice.
Rhode Island Has a Clean Indoor Air Act – But No Clean Air
The issue is painfully familiar. Despite the Clean Indoor Air Act in force in Rhode Island, casinos have remained a glaring exemption in the enforcement of the legislation.
The evidence is mounting that second-hand smoking is even more dangerous for non-smokers, or in the very least, just as bad. Bally’s casinos in Lincoln and Tiverton did take measures during the COVID-19 pandemic and were quick to suspend indoor smoking, but that was restored once again when the pandemic was over.
The Committee heard evidence from one Vanessa Baker, who worked as an iGaming supervisor at the aforementioned Bally’s properties. She spoke about her difficulty adapting to a smoking working environment, the health risks she has faced, and issues she has suffered from.
Baker is one of the witnesses who is part of public hearings that seek to improve the odds of passing for House Bill 25, a piece of legislation sponsored by Rep. Teresa Tanzi which should bring an end to the exemption which has been ongoing for over 20 years now.
The bill has long been in the works. It was originally filed in 2021, but it has stalled in committees with little headway to speak of. However, a strong backing in the House means that it could be seen on its way to the Senate before long.
There are other considerations for why lawmakers may be inclined to act sooner rather than later on this piece of legislation, too. Public opinion favors the end of the exemption, too, with the majority of residents strongly or somewhat supporting the end of smoking exemptions for casinos. Seven out of 10 favor this course of action, according to an AFL-CIO poll conducted in February.
Where Would All the Smokers Go If Smoking Is Banned?
Bally’s SVP for Rhode Island Regulatory Relations, Craig Sculos, has urged caution in the matter and argued that the economic impact on the properties would be felt immediately.
For one, Sculos argues that the properties are able to attract out of state gamblers who may not be willing to travel to Rhode Island any longer, with Massachusetts banning residents from smoking on casino floors, which has resulted in an uptick of footfall in Rhode Island. The same rule applies to Connecticut.
These players, meaning smokers, are now coming to Rhode Island, resulting in economic improvement. Although there have been statements that ending smoking mandates does not hurt casinos’ revenues, Sculos beg to differ, adding that the smoking areas of the casino tend to add more revenue to the casino than its non-smoking counterpart.
Yet, the public has long made its position clear. It’s now time for lawmakers to act – smoke clouds are gathering not only over punters’ and staffers’ heads, but they’re also dimming the casinos’ prospects.
Clinging to the status quo only deepens the uncertainty facing Rhode Island’s casinos, a peril born from a refusal to acknowledge the facts.
